Wonderland - The Unfit Kingdoms and the Skinster

The Unfit Kingdoms are an extension of the Kingdom of Hearts, which we see in Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland. Partially thanks to Alison the Kingdoms of Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, and Spades, have all been unleashed upon the world.

Each Kingdom is composed of a King, Queen, Knave, and ten Soldiers, of varying strengths. The Kingdoms all have their own individual plans for Earth and all go about their business in their own ways. The Kingdom of Hearts is often very passionate and violent. The Kingdom of Diamonds is much more conniving and intelligent, preferring not to get their hands dirty. The Kingdom of Clubs is far quieter, but by degrees the most deadly, always having a thirst to cause harm. Whilst the Kingdom of Spades is an odd exception, certainly appearing to be kind and peaceful.

But as each of the Kingdoms’ plans unfolds, someone else is always present. The Skinster is a dark and vicious monster, who acts as an advisor to all four of the Unfit Kingdoms, but at the same time, seems to profit from their destruction just as much as Alison and Wonderland’s denizens do.

He is a particularly gruesome character who often appears as a man covered in bandages – seeing as his name is really something of a cruel joke. He is a man of flesh, but lacks any form of skin. He leaves bloodstains where he walks and though he likes to assume an air of elegance and benevolence, it is really an act to cover the fact that he is little more than a wild animal.

I thought that the Unfit Kingdoms would be the logical extension of the Kingdom of Hearts we get to see in Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland. It seemed only natural that there should be kingdoms for the other three suits in a deck. For a while each of the Unfit Kingdoms took turns to be the main villain, but over time I came up with a secondary plot, and invented the Skinster. Being a skinless man, he’s definitely my most gruesome character and I like to reflect this in his viciousness when provoked. A few alternative names for him were: the Flesher, the Court Magician, the Court Jester, and the Skinless.